Two individuals who brought explosives to a demonstration outside the New York City mayoral residence admitted to being influenced by the extremist group Islamic State, according to a court complaint. Emir Balat and Ibrahim Kayumi were arraigned on Monday on charges that included trying to support a terrorist organization and using a weapon of mass destruction, and they were ordered held without bail. The homemade explosive devices, which were not detonated, were thrown during counterprotests against an anti-Islamic rally led by Jake Lang, a far-right activist critical of New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, the city’s first Muslim mayor.
During a brief court session, FBI’s New York office head James Barnacle stated that Balat and Kayumi aimed to instill fear and create mass suffering through the alleged terror attack. The complaint mentioned that Kayumi mentioned ISIS as the reason for his actions when he was arrested, while Balat, 18, admitted to pledging allegiance to the extremist group. Kayumi, 19, claimed affiliation with the Islamic State. Balat responded affirmatively when asked if his intent was similar to the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing but stated he aimed for something larger.
Balat’s lawyer, Mehdi Essmidi, described his client as a high school senior from the Philadelphia area dealing with personal challenges. Kayumi’s lawyer, Michael Arthus, raised concerns in court about potential juror bias due to extensive media coverage. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch confirmed that neither suspect had a criminal record.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi denounced ISIS’s anti-American ideology on social media, emphasizing that such threats would not be tolerated. The suspects, both residents of Pennsylvania, were captured on camera entering New York City from New Jersey shortly before the incident. Kayumi’s mother reported him missing, while their vehicle, registered to Balat’s relative, was found near the arrest site with items indicating bomb-making materials.
Mayor Mamdani stated that the suspects had traveled from Pennsylvania to incite violence in New York City, clarifying that he and his wife were not present during the protest. Police ruled out any connection between the suspects’ actions and the conflict in Iran, noting the religious differences between the Islamic State and Iran. Lang, the protest organizer, faced criticism from Mamdani during a news conference at Gracie Mansion, where Lang heckled from outside the gates.
The chaotic scene at the protest involved Balat throwing a device containing the explosive TATP towards the crowd, which failed to detonate near police officers. Balat attempted a second device drop before being apprehended along with Kayumi. Additional arrests were made, including one individual for pepper-spraying counterprotesters, who was later released on bail. Lang, previously involved in the U.S. Capitol insurrection, faced charges but was released under former President Trump’s clemency, and has since announced a Senate run in Florida.